Introduction
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You've done your research on how to make the perfect candle, went out and purchased all the materials, made the candles; only to light them and realize that you can only smell a hint of fragrance when standing right above your candle.
I thought all I had to do was mix wax and fragrance and, voilà! An amazing scented candle, but it's not that easy. That's why you're reading this blog post, right?
Fear not, friend! I have been making candles for over 9 years, and I can give you some life-changing tips on how to make candles smell stronger.
Factors Affecting Candle Scent and Strength
Fragrance oil type and quality
When looking for fragrance oils, do some research on quality vendors.
Here are some vendors I use: Candlescience, Waxyflower, Nature's Garden, Flaming Candle.
Make sure the fragrance you are purchasing is formulated for candle making. Essential oils are a popular option for home candle makers, but they are NOT interchangeable with fragrance oils.
Essential oils are pure and do not contain the same type of synthetic carrier oils found in fragrance oils. This means that essential oils are more unstable when combined with the heat of the candle, resulting in a weaker fragrance.
This is not necessarily a negative thing; some people enjoy a subtle scent. However, it's important to know that you will not achieve a strong candle smell with essential oils, and do NOT add more oils to the candle to try to do so, as this can be a fire hazard.
Appropriate and quality fragrance oils are the first step in how to make candles small stronger.
Wax Type
There are many different waxes on the market, and they all serve different purposes. You can find specific waxes for container candles, pillar candles, and wax melts.
RELATED: How to Make Wax Melts to Sell
You don't want to go to the hobby store and grab any wax off the shelf. Think about what you are trying to accomplish with your candle, and pick a wax accordingly.
Personally, I love a strong scented candle, so I opt for the IGI 4630 paraffin wax. I also like to mix in some stearic acid. This ingredient is used in cosmetics, and when added to paraffin wax, it can help boost the scent throw!
Many beginners like to opt for soy wax, but personally, I think soy wax is not for beginners. It can be difficult to achieve a strong scent throw with this wax.
If you've had trouble with soy, don't throw in the towel yet. Consider trying a paraffin or soy blend wax instead.
If you're set on using soy wax, seek out an experienced mentor for troubleshooting or continue reading for more tips on enhancing candle scents.
Container Selection
When chatting with candle makers about scent throw, they are surprised when I mention that the container plays a big role in candle scent throw.
Here is the rule to remember. The larger the diameter of the container, the larger the scent throw.
💡 Why does container diameter matter?
The candle melt pool is how the fragrance is being released into the air. When making candles, you need to pick the right wick size for the container you're using so that it creates a full melt pool. If your container is wider, it needs more heat to make a full melt pool. A wider container makes a bigger melt pool, which is how to make candles smell stronger.
So, if you are struggling with your small 7oz jelly jar like the one pictured, and you've tried changing waxes and oils, try also increasing the diameter of your container.
This jelly jar has a diameter of 2.5 inches.
This 8oz apothecary jar from Candlescience holds just an ounce more of wax as the first example, but the wide 4 inch diameter will allow you to use 2 wicks. Thus, increasing the scent throw of the candle.
Wick Testing
So far, we've talked about fragrance, wax, and containers, but we have one more thing to address on how to make candles smell stronger, and that is wick selection.
Wicks are an important part of the candle-making process, and the vast selection can be very overwhelming.
Using a wick guide like this one can help you narrow down your options.
RELATED: How to Make Soy Candles
When testing a new wick, here are some things to keep in mind:
Melt pool - Burn the candle from top to bottom. Observe the candle to see if there is any wax remaining on the sides after the candle has burned down. If there is leftover wax, then this means the wick is too small.
Soot - Is your candle producing an excess amount of soot? Small puffs of soot are normal, but if you notice a flame larger than ~1.5 inches and a lot of soot coming from the candle, then this means your wick may be too hot. Also, you will notice that the glass becomes extremely hot to the touch. Soot can be a nuisance in the home, and this is grounds for the candle to shatter.
Example of a properly wicked candle - By the time the candle has burned halfway, you should observe no wax on the sides of the container. Flames will be ~1 inch high, and the melt pool will be 0.5-1 inch deep. Also, a properly wicked candle will result in a great-smelling candle!
Conclusion
I struggled with scent throw for way too long in my beginner days, and hopefully, I was able to give you some valuable insights on how to make candles smell stronger. Candle making can be a finicky process when you're starting out, but don't worry, just keep experimenting and tracking your results, and soon enough you will get it down pat!
Check out my Candle Book!
Candle Craft, A Complete Guide
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